A NEW ARTFUL DODGER.

North Otago Times, 3 September 1910, Page 3 (Supplement)

A NEW ARTFUL DODGER.

A .lady: who ; happened to ;be. alone m the .house at-the moment, iwas engaged in.some culinary operations in the kitchen, when a man, who bad walked round the garden to the back of the house, considerably startled her by suddenly appearing in the"

doorway, and saying:- ; '■■'■'■ "Good morniri,' mum; all, alone, I

"What do you want'?'' asked the lady, sharply. ■••-•■ > ... "Why, mum, I want to know i! you will buy a hew patent mousetrap." It's a wonderful' invention-

will ketch a dozen mice at a time; and it's only a shilling." ■ ■ ' "No;,we haven't got any mice in

the house," answered the lady.. "They're almost' certain to, come

sooner or later, mum. Better pro- '

vide for a • mousey, day," persisted the man. !

"I tell you we've got no mice;

and I don't want a trap; and I'm busy, 1 * said tho lady, irritably.

"Got no mice?" repeated the man, v softly. "Well, that's soon remedied. I've got a couple in my pocket, arid

"Don't you let them loose here!"

shrieked the lady.' "It depends, mum," said the man, calmly, producing a small trap from his pocket containing two lively, mico,' whereupon the lady gave a series of screams and scrambled on to a chair. "It depends, mum," continued, the man. ."If you will buy a trap' I won't let the' mice loose; but if'you won't, why, I'll make you a present of the two lititle creatures. I ain't stingy, if you are. It would be a charity to. let 'em loose; they ain't had anything to eat for ever so long. They seem to be tryin' to get at you now, mum!" And he pointed the mice towards her.

"How-how much did you say the trap was ?" gasped the lady. ' '.'Only a shillin', mum. Blessed if they ain't showin' their teeth !"

"Put those horrid things away, and-aml I'll buy a trap," almost sobbed the lady. f The man replaced the mice in.his pocket, and the lady tremblingly produced a shilling from her puree.' and threw it at him, He picked it up and said :- "You see, mum, it's very hard to get a living nowadays, so I'vo hit upon this, little plan to, so to say, force business. Ladie3 forget what ; terrible things mice are until they ' are brought before their eyes, but directly I show 'em the real live article they think, 'Good graciouß! there may he some in the house after all!' and are eager to do business with me. Of course, it was only my fun about letting 'em loose. I wouldn't frighten a lady for the world |" he added, with a leer.

"Well, good mornin', mum; and thank you," and he walked cheerfully away, muttering to himself :- "This mouse dodge is the most profitable bjz I've ever hit upon,

That makes six traps I've sold today." ' •